Oprah Winfrey has been facing sharp criticism for her comments on race in recent weeks, but tonight on CNN, the director of her new film The Butler sat down with Piers Morgan and was faced with what he described as a “powerful question”: “Do you think that America is a more or less racist country since Barack Obama became president?”

“I think that people are angry that he’s president and I think that they are showing their true colors,” Daniels said. He described how in the world of his historical film, “any black man could be killed by any white man and get away with it,” and that was before Trayvon Martin. Daniels said despite the fact that he ends his film “with hope,” when he walked out of the editing room and learned about Trayvon Martin, he realized that “sadly” we do still live in a very racist country.

Morgan also talked to one of the film’s co-stars Lenny Kravitz about the issue of racism in light ofThe Butler and Winfrey’s recent revelations about experiencing racism. Kravitz said that growing up he did encounter racism, but asked, “has the world gotten better in general? Yes.”

Another co-star, Cuba Gooding, Jr., offered his advice to any young African-Americans who feel “disenfranchised.” He said he thinks “there’s been a real disconnect with the civil rights movement and the history of it and I think this movie opens that dialogue so that you can make your decisions as an African-American or an American.”

To watch Lee Daniels interview and read this article in its entirety visit Mediaite.

when we stop intergrating and assimilating and focus on growing and having our own, racism wouldn’t even be an issue – whether it existed or not. i’m so sick of black folks beggingthe white man to love him.

Bishop Rodney Sanders

Last time we did what you advocate, white folks killed a bunch of blacks and burned the place down. Tulsa 1921.

enochmubarak

Co-star, Cuba Gooding, Jr.,said he thinks “this movie opens that dialogue.”….. With black people everything opens up a dialogue and beyond talking……silence.

INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE – When black people buy theaters tickets to see themselves portrayed by Hollywood as butlers, ignorant slaves, fat black maids or sign and accept demeaning Hollywood slave contracts and then tell other black people that it was a good movie.